Salaried taxpayers and pensioners who are yet to file their income tax return need not fret as the Income Tax Department has provided ample facilities with extended timings at the special counters set up at Pragati Maidan's Hall no 12 and 12 A for the last day of filing returns on Sunday.
The camp, which has been operational since July 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will remain open on Sunday till 8 p.m. for the convenience of the last-minute taxpayers. The entrance to the halls is from Gate No 7. However, those using the Metro are advised to use Gate No.10 for entry.
Besides, bank facility being made available at the hall there for payment of tax, and special counters for returns of senior citizens and differently-abled have been provided at Pragati Maidan as well as at Mayur Bhawan. Specific ward-wise details would be made available at enquiry and assistance counters and also through hoardings.
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According to the Department, 45,000 taxpayers filed their tax returns at Pragati Maidan on Saturday, while the cumulative figure for July 28 and 29 stood at 67,000. About 200 counters, including 140 for general category, 30 for special category and remaining for service assistance, enquiry and help desk have been set up.
Speaking about the arrangements, Income Tax Commissioner C.M. Jha said: “Till now, we have only been getting about 50 per cent of the capacity we had planned for. July 31 being the last day and being a Sunday we are expecting a footfall of about one lakh taxpayers. Apart from extended timings we have not made any additional special facilities in terms of number of counters and staff for Sunday, but if we notice a higher than expected rush we have back up arrangements for the same.”
“In addition, a special enquiry counter and two separate counters of Tax Return Preparers have been provided for the senior citizens and the differently-abled so they do not have to line up in queues for the general category, which are more crowded. Moreover, while we have one IT Commissioner dedicated for three ranges in general category, for senior citizen and differently-abled we have one IT Commissioner dedicated for a range each. An emergency medical facility counter has also been set up for their benefit,” he added.
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On Saturday, a total of 602 taxpayers in the senior citizens and differently-abled category filed their tax returns. IT Commissioner in-charge of this special category A.K.Singh said: “Most taxpayers in this category prefer to file their returns at Mayur Bhawan given its central location and ease of approach from parking compared to Pragati Maidan.”
Keeping in mind the anticipated rush on Sunday, the IT Commissioner also advised the tax payers to preferably come prepared with filled forms from home to save time and effort. Mr. Jha also called upon the tax payers to bring along all the requisite documents including PAN card, form 16 and TDS certificate for bank interest as that would help them get their forms ready through TRPs more efficiently.
“In general, this year fewer people have turned up at the special camp set up here because e-filing has caught on with no glitches or hanging problems witnessed in the software so far. It might be slow in peak hours but it is still working. E-filing would be accepted online till 12 a.m. on Sunday,” he added.
Visitors appeared satisfied with the arrangement. One of them, Mohit Arora, said: “This year more space was available as the camp has been set up in a larger hall. There was not much rush on Saturday and once I completed filling the form it just took me 15 minutes to deposit it.''
Interestingly, given the fewer crowds that have turned up this year, no complaints of pick-pocketing or theft have been reported from there so far.